Research Project- Outcome 1

Jonathan Macleod- EC1838457

The piece I will be basing my research on is ‘Hot-Sonate’ composed by Erwin Schulhoff. This
piece, which was first written by Schulhoff in 1930, contains a solo Alto Saxophone with a
piano accompaniment. This piece is a jazz influenced classical piece as it is fully notated
containing musical features that are usually found in jazz music. This piece is divided into
three contrasting movements with the focus of this research being on the 1 st movement.

Musical Features

Rhythm

‘Hot-Sonate (1st Movement)’ is written for a solo Alto Saxophone in Eb with a piano
accompaniment. The piece is written in 4/4 time. In regard to time changes, there are none
although, this piece includes a few examples of semi quaver and quaver triplets which
temporarily changes the flow-of-melody. This piece does contain some more advanced
rhythm’s which even can be heard in the Alto Saxophone’s first bar:
1https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEINXjjcsNw

The saxophone part contains examples of the usage of triplet notes. These examples are
often played quickly as they are either played in quavers or semi quavers. These triplets are
played in a swung pattern. The implementation of swung rhythm further proves the
influence of musical features belonging to the genre of jazz.

Tonality

Although this piece has no sharps or flats in the key signature, this piece has a few examples
of using blue notes which enforces the jazz sound and nature of this work. Some the
accidentals implemented by Schulhoff creates an almost obscure sound. This can be heard
at:

Time Stamp: 0:46

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEINXjjcsNw

Although these blues notes are notated on the sheet music technically making these specific
notes accidentals which are a classical music feature. Again, another example of Jazz having
an influence on what is, in fact, a classical piece. Schulhoff’s use of blues notes makes this
piece exciting for the listener as the piece is constantly taking unexpected turns with the use
of blues notes making unexpected appearances. The use of blues notes also adds a level of
expression for the performer with multiple examples of notes that are played in an
expressive fashion to truly achieve that luxurious and rich jazz sound Schulhoff was looking
to achieve (while still strictly remaining a classical piece!).
This piece is written in C major. The solo instruments melody can sometimes be unclear as
to whether it is major or minor but we can assume that this piece has a major tonality
through listening to the piano accompinent. In the first 5 bars the piano accompaniment
plays a similar backing melody which has a distinguishable major tonality.

Melody

The Saxophone’s part contains many accidental notes which gives the piece a jazz sound
while also being played on the Saxophone (a prominent instrument in jazz music). Although,
these accidentals are notated and not improvised which makes this piece officially; A Jazz
influenced Classical piece.

Some parts of this piece sound completely improvised with the Saxophone and piano
playing contrasting melodies with obscure fast melodic lines being played on the
Saxophone. This can be heard at: 1:16. This notated improvisation is tricky and technical and
designed to sound improvised between the Saxophone and Piano.

Another element of jazz influence in this piece is the use of note bending. A common
expressive technique found in jazz and familiar genres like blues can also be heard in this
piece (specifically at 1:04).

Time stamps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEINXjjcsNw

Obscure Build Up scales: 0:10, 0:16, 0:46, 1:08, 1:50, 3:31, 3:50

At times, the Piano and Alto Saxophone play similar melodies. This can be heard at 0:59. In
this example we hear the main instrument and the accompiment playing a similar rhythm
and melodic pattern although the Saxophone line is ascending and the Piano line is
descending. This is a classical feature term often considered as ‘Polyphonic’.

Although, it is worthy to note that Hot-Sonate is strictly not a ‘Jazz’ piece. It is technically a
classical piece with a heavy influence and the use of musical features from Jazz. The genre of
‘Jazz’ traditionally has an accompaniment of guitar, bass, drums and piano whereas Hot-
Sonate uses a classically influenced piano acccompiment.

Instruments

This piece was composed for the Eb Alto Saxophone with the accompiment a Piano
accompiment. The use of Alto Saxophone in this piece is frequent and strong, playing
consistently throughout the piece with occasional half bar and full bar rests. The Alto
Saxophone holds responsibility in playing the main melodies, fast and intricate scales with
the added difficulty of the piano accompaniment playing contrasting rhythms and melodies
meaning that absolute correct timing and understanding between instruments is a
necessity.

Texture

The Alto Saxophone line is textured differently throughout the piece. The main melody line
begins light and soft with an overall warm sound. The texture changes in bar 23 to short and
strong with faster rhythm’s notated. In bar 27 the texture of the solo instrument returns to
a soft and warm sound with the notation ‘Ma Sempre Dolce’ included in this bar which
means to ‘play sweetly’. This is a classical notation and it’s use further demonstrates the
merge of classical and jazz.

The accompanist’s texture, which sometimes contrasts to the solo instrument, is

consistently light, forward-moving and busy. This is done using short notes being
consistently played in the accompaniment with the effective use of rest’s being performed
unexpectedly resulting in a sometimes-stuttering sound.

Structure

In terms of this piece’s genre, jazz, the most common structure used is ‘AABA’. This
structure is usually played in 32 bars which is then broken own into 8- bar phrases. The A
and B sections often contrast in terms of harmony and melody. An Example of this structure
being played in Jazz is ‘I Got Rhythm’ by Charlie Parker.

2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fgxyyrqZ-I

A section: 0:00

B: section: 0:50

In this piece, we hear Parkers main ‘A’ melody playing the introduction on the trumpet. The
piece then breaks into the bridge or ‘B’ section where we hear different musical
charactersists such as; a change in rhythm, melody and harmony between solo and
accompaniment instruments as we hear elements of improvisation in Alto Saxophone,
trumpet and piano.

Hot- Sonate uses a similar structure with an opening section which then returns for the final
section of the piece with a contrasting ‘B’ section in-between.

Hot Sonate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEINXjjcsNw

A Section: 0:00
B Section: 1:12

Returning A section: 3:18

Dynamics

Hot-Sonate feature a range of different dynamics throughout the piece. These dynamics are
notated and played to capture the smooth and sweet jazz style. The piece begins on mezzo
piano promptly followed by a crescendo into mezzo forte with a diminuendo returning to
mezzo piano. In the first 10 bars we can already hear a large range of dynamics. The ‘B’
section is mostly played in forte until bar 31 when we hear the saxophone and piano
increase into fortissimo. In bar 61, when we return to our ‘A’ section, the Alto Saxophone
has a notation of piano, and finally, pianissimo for the final bar of the piece.

Jazz often uses a range of dynamics to capture the overall feel. Contrasting dynamics in jazz
can be used to express emotional and rubato sections and used to build up the piece into a
bold solo.

Social and Cultural features

In terms of popular music, Jazz was one of the most listened to genres around the world
competing with country and its predecessor Blues. Similar to Blues, Jazz was first played and
grew from the US through iconic figures of jazz such as; Charlie Parker, Cab Calloway and
Duke Ellington. The genre in the 1930’s was diversifying into sub genres including ‘Swing
Jazz’ which was listened to and enjoyed globally. In the 1930’s and 1940’s there was
officially more Alto Saxophones than Electric Guitars per household! This statistic truly
expresses the popularity of Jazz during this time.

Again, like the Blues, Jazz was first seen as an African American music genre. Possibly due to
this time period being restrictive if you were African American, the music created was seen
as an outlet and a way of expressing their feelings.

Jazz was enjoyed by all cultures and ‘classes. Jazz music was played at high end events, on
the streets and dance halls.

The piece, ‘Hot-Sonate’, is interesting to study during this time due to the composer, Erwin
Schulhoff, being raised in a Jewish family living in Germany in the 1930’s (the same decade
Hot-Sonate was first composed). Hot-Sonate is regarded as one of Schulhoff’s last romantic
influenced pieces due being called up for the army which changed his music and himself.

“Erwin Schulhoff (1894-1942) was a Czech composer and pianist of German descent and
was one of a number of musicians whose successful careers were cut short by the rise of the
Nazi regime in Germany” according to Chandos.
“The final years before and during World War II proved to be difficult for the com- poser. His
publishing contract with Universal Edition ended in 1931. His utilization of jazz styles in the
classical genre had fallen out of favour. He composed under a number of pseudonyms and
performed as the pianist in the orchestra of the Liberated Théâtre. His family life was also
strained. He became involved with a student, and a difficult divorce followed” according to
‘Chandos.net’.

Phil Woods, an American Jazz composer, wrote and composed the popular ‘Phil Woods
Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano’. The piece, which was originally composed in 1962, is
a great example for comparison to Schulhoff’s ‘Hot-Sonate’ with both containg similarities
and differences. Both pieces have a similar ‘dream-like’ feel especially in each pieces
respective first movements. A few of Wood’s Sonata differences; note bending, grace notes
and, of course, being oringally composed in A minor in comparison to Schullhoff’s C major
sonata.

A significant exponent of jazz inspired classical music is George Gershwin. Gershwin

contributed and inspired through composing some of the most popular jazz inspired
classical pieces. Notably ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, composed in 1924 by Gershwin, is a perfect
example of a jazz-inspired classical piece of music. Written for and performed by an
orchestra, ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, contains many jazz musical features although being
performed and accompanied by classical instruments. Including the recognisable solo
performed on the clarinet (with that incredible signature use of note bending), muted
trumpets and the 7th chord filled piano solo- Rhapsody in Blue was an incredible and world-
renowned addition to jazz inspired classical music. Gershwin had many other successful jazz-
inspired classical compositions including ‘Porgy and Bess’, a jazz-inspired opera written by
Gershwin.

Listen to Rhapsody In Blue: 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynEOo28lsbc

Another significant exponent of jazz influenced classical music is Darius Milhaud. He

describes his “La Creation Du Monde” as “a work making wholesale use of the jazz style to
convey purely classical feeling” according to the ‘Center for Jazz Arts’. This article describes
Milhauds career describing Milhaud as “a pioneer in combining the use of percussion,
polytonality, jazz influence and aleatory techniques”.

Developments within the genre

The genre of Jazz inspired classical music and jazz enjoyed a surge of popularity parrel with
the “Roaring Twenties”. This is a period in which America enjoyed economic freedom after
World War 1. Often used in celebrations and parties, this genre became one of the most
popular and listened to genres at the time.

Although, jazz inspired classical, and jazz was included in several things and products
banned during ‘Prohibition’ which ran from 1920 to 1933 in America. Popular artists
including Ethel Waters and Louis Armstrong (who often used orchestral accompaniment)
were popular during this era. Louis Armstrong produced a popular cover of ‘Summertime’
which was an original composition by Gershwin from his ‘Jazz Opera’ Pergy and Bess. ( 5
Hancock Historical Museum 2021).

Jazz inspired classical lost popularity with the fast uprise of Blues and Rock (although Blues is
often considered the child genre of Jazz due to the similarities that Blues took from Jazz). It
is worth mentioning that Larry Austin produced multiple well received jazz influenced
classical pieces from the 1960’s-1970’s including ‘Apage Set’, Improvisations for Orchestra
and Jazz Soloists and ‘Fantasy on a Theme by Berg’. A more recent example of jazz
influenced classical music is ‘Caprichos No. 4 Quasi Jazz’. Composed and first performed in
2007.

Although not the most popular genre today, Jazz influenced Classical music was an
impressive merging of two contrasting genres which often resulted in a challenge for
performer and composer to capture and portray musical features and techniques both
classical and jazz.

Reference List

1
Youtube (2021)
Erwin Schulhoff’s Hot Sonate. Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEINXjjcsNw ‘Octavestorm’ 2012
(Accessed: January 2022)

2
Youtube (2010)
Charlie Parker- I’ve Got Rhythm. Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fgxyyrqZ-I ‘arne3788’ 2010
(Accessed: January 2022)

3
Chandos The Sound of Classical (2021)
Available at:
https://www.chandos.net
(Accessed: January 2022)

4
Youtube (2011)
Rhapsody In Blue: Gershwin. Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynEOo28lsbc
(Accessed: January 2022)

5
Hancock Historical Museum (2021)
Jazz during the 1920s. Available at:
https://hancockhistoricalmuseum.org/i-love-the-1920s/jazz-music-during-the-1920s//
(Accessed: January 2022)

6
Center for Jazz Arts (2018)
Classical. Available at:
https://web.archive.org/web/20120209184833/http://www.centerforjazzarts.org/
classical_1a.html
(Accessed: January 2022)